Elon Musk’s Starlink expands to provide coverage of the Arctic.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch a batch of Starlink satellites into a low-Earth polar orbit from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. This mission is part of SpaceX’s ongoing effort to expand its Starlink megaconstellation for global internet coverage. Starlink represents a significant change for many communities in the North.
Starlink is making waves globally, revolutionizing internet access by bridging the digital divide. From rural areas to the poles, SpaceX ambitious constellation is changing how the world stays connected. This move will boost internet coverage in remote and high-latitude regions, providing faster connectivity where it’s needed most.
Starlink internet arrived across large parts of the North American and European Arctic,for near-complete coverage of the Arctic, outside of Russia. SpaceX’s rapid pace is pushing the boundaries of space tech. Starlink is now available across all of Alaska and Canada. After ice severed a fiber optic cable in the Arctic Ocean, cutting internet & cell service across Northern Alaska, the Starlink team has been coordinating with the State of Alaska, various local governments & Native communities to help provide connectivity where it’s needed most
SpaceX’s Starlink has been actively involved in projects to provide high-speed internet to Arctic, Polar, and Alaska regions, addressing the connectivity challenges of these remote areas. Starlink began providing internet service to high-latitude Arctic communities in 2022, with plans for near-complete coverage by Q1 2023, excluding Greenland and Russia. This was enabled by launching satellites into polar orbits, starting with 10 satellites in January 2021 and expanding to over 200 by 2023. These satellites use laser interlinks to connect without relying on local ground stations, crucial for remote polar areas.
In September 2022, Starlink reached Antarctica, starting with trials at McMurdo Station as part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) experiment. By January 2023, it expanded to field missions, providing connectivity to remote research camps. Polar-orbiting satellites with optical interlinks connect to ground stations in South America, New Zealand, and Australia, as Antarctica lacks local ground stations.
Starlink offers data speeds of 50–150 Mbps with 20–40 ms latency during beta testing, a significant improvement over traditional high-latency, low-speed connections in these regions. The service has been tested in harsh Arctic conditions, including high winds and extreme cold, with reliable performance.
Starlink aims to deliver affordable, high-speed internet to rural Alaska, where traditional internet is slow and costly (e.g., $300/month for 10 Mbps in Utqiaġvik). Residents could sign up for $99/month service, with a $549 equipment cost, targeting availability in 2022–2023. This is seen as revolutionary for communities with limited access. SpaceX has built three ground stations in Alaska (Nome, Fairbanks, Kuparuk) to support data transfer between satellites and users. These stations connect to global internet via fiber optics, enhancing low-latency service. In 2025, Pacific Dataport’s Nome Gateway began delivering over 10 Gbps of Aurora LEO broadband via Starlink to remote Alaskan regions, significantly boosting connectivity.
In 2023, Starlink coordinated with Alaskan local governments and Native communities to restore connectivity after a fiber optic cable was severed in the Arctic Ocean. Organizations like the Native Women’s Association of the Northwest Territory have supplied Starlink terminals to low-income families and elders in remote Alaskan and Canadian communities. Starlink’s connectivity supports Arctic and Antarctic research, enabling real-time data transfer for scientists in remote field camps. The NSF has noted its potential to transform scientific operations in these regions.
In 2021, the FCC approved only 10 of 348 requested polar-orbit satellites due to concerns from competitors like OneWeb, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Pacific Dataport about potential space debris and interference. OneWeb, with 110 polar-orbit satellites by 2021, planned to offer 400 Mbps service in Alaska by October 2021, potentially outpacing Starlink initially. Amazon’s Project Kuiper, still in early stages, is another competitor. Critics, including astronomers, worry about Starlink’s impact on night sky observations due to its large constellation (7,135 satellites as of March 2025). SpaceX has worked with the NSF to reduce satellite brightness.
Starlink Mini was reported to work 800 miles from the North Pole, highlighting its game-changing potential. The U.S. Space Force’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM), launched by SpaceX in 2024, aims to enhance Arctic broadband for military and civilian use.
Starlink’s Arctic, Polar, and Alaska projects focus on delivering high-speed internet to underserved regions using polar-orbiting satellites with laser interlinks. These initiatives support rural communities, scientific research, and military operations, with significant infrastructure like ground stations in Alaska. Despite regulatory and competitive challenges, Starlink’s impact is transformative, though its large constellation raises concerns about space debris and astronomical interference.
Innovative projects in the Arctic and polar regions by countries focus on sustainable development, climate change adaptation, environmental protection, and collaboration with indigenous communities. These initiatives, often supported by international organizations like the Arctic Council, EU, and NordForsk, address shared challenges such as climate change, resource management, and infrastructure development.
Collaborative projects through NordForsk, the EU, and the Arctic Council emphasize sustainability, indigenous involvement, and technological innovation, positioning the Arctic as a global hub for climate research. Cross-border initiatives, like ARICE and APPLICATE, enhance data sharing and research capacity, addressing global challenges like climate change. Investments in digital connectivity (e.g., fiber optic cables, 5G) and clean energy solutions promise to transform Arctic communities while preserving their cultural heritage.
Innovative Russian projects in the Arctic and polar regions focus on sustainable development, resource extraction, environmental protection, and infrastructure improvement under extreme climatic conditions. These initiatives aim to enhance economic potential, ensure ecological balance, and improve the quality of life in the Arctic, particularly in the Russian Arctic Zone (AZRF), while addressing global challenges like climate change.
The Arctic is a strategic region for Russia, with emphasis on the NSR as a global trade route and resource hub. Innovations in “smart” technologies, renewable energy, and ecological monitoring position Russia as a leader in Arctic development. International cooperation (e.g., with Norway, Canada) and scientific advancements aim to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.
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